Both teams struggled to tickle the twine in the first half, which ended with the Rockets in front, 14-10. The Lions had more first-half turnovers (11) than shots (eight).

"I challenged the girls at halftime to play with more defensive intensity," said John Glenn coach Derrick Jordan. "They went out and created multiple turnovers that help lead to some easy baskets at the other end."

Jordan said Stribling's potential is higher than the ceiling.

"She's definitely one of our leaders," Jordan said of Stribling. "When she's focused, she can be one of the best players in the KLAA."

John Glenn's victory may have been a tad more comfortable if not for some off-the-mark free-throw shooting (eight-for-23). The Lions drained 16 of their 30 free-throw attempts.

Although the Rockets never trailed in the second half, they were never able to pull away from the feisty Lions. After Stribling banked in a fast-break lay-up off a slick feed from Woodard at the 2:27 mark of the third quarter, the hosts led 27-17.

However, South Lyon ended the stanza — and opened the fourth — with a flurry, closing its deficit to 30-29 35 seconds into the final period on a driving layup by Swain.

The Lions could never get over the hump, falling victim to a 10-2 Rocket spurt that was capped by a Loving layup off a great cross-court pass by Reed.